Last week rumours of Tim Sylvia signing with Strikeforce to face Daniel Cormier were shot down by UFC President Dana White. It now appears Cormier’s opponent will be a former UFC heavyweight champion.

Dana White has now confirmed that Frank Mir will step in to face the Strikeforce World Grand Prix champion Sept. 29 at Power Balance Pavilion in Sacramento, CA.

Dana White: “There has been a lot of speculation as to who Cormier would fight next, and this is the fight that makes the most sense. The reality is, Cormier is one of the best heavyweights in the world. He just won the grand prix and beat Josh Barnett. He needs to fight opponents of that caliber, and Frank Mir is that guy.”

Great attitude by Frank for accepting it - I think he will get his $$ for this.

This fight would be great. I like both fighters. I think that Cormier will win this and make him self big name for UFC fans and his marketability.

Im big believere in Cormier. He is absolute beast and I believe that he has legitimate shot at JDS. He could win it. I dont say he will but he has better chance that most UFC´s HW right now.

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"Given enough time, any man may master the physical. With enough knowledge, any man may become wise. It is the true warrior who can master both....and surpass the result." - Tien T'ai

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion Frank Mir (16-6 MMA, 14-
6 UFC) is temporarily leaving the octagon in favor of a Strikeforce cage.
USA TODAY Sports confirmed with UFC and Strikeforce
officials that Mir had agreed to meet Strikeforce grand
prix winner and former two-time Olympic wrestler Daniel
Cormier (10-0 MMA, 7-0 Strikeforce) at a yet-to-beannounced Strikeforce event expected to take place in
late October.
It will air on Showtime.
"There has been a lot of speculation as to who Cormier
would fight next, and this is the fight that makes the most
sense," UFC President Dana White said. "The reality is,
Cormier is one of the best heavyweights in the world. He
just won the grand prix and beat Josh Barnett. He needs
to fight opponents of that caliber, and Frank Mir is that
guy."
Strikeforce was purchased by the UFC's parent
company, Zuffa, in March 2011. The companies have
since operated independently, and differences between
White and Strikeforce's broadcast partners at Showtime
have led to a largely frosty relationship. However, this
booking represents a temporary change in direction, as
the UFC and Strikeforce rosters were previously
considered mutually exclusive.
After the fight, both Mir and Cormier will compete in the
UFC after a decision this past fall for Strikeforce to
dissolve its heavyweight division and focus on developing other weight classes. Many of
the company's heavyweights moved to the UFC, while Cormier stayed to finish out the
heavyweight tournament.

This is basically Dana White's way of getting around the fact that Cormier has one fight left on his SF contract with Showtime. We can all consider this to be Cormier's first UFC fight, as both fighters will be with the UFC permanently after this event and the SF heavyweight division will be fully dissolved.